The Israelites arrived in Kadesh, where Miriam died. Facing a severe water shortage, the people rebelled against Moses and Aaron, leading Moses to strike a rock twice for water, contrary to God's command to speak to it. For this act of unbelief, God declared that Moses and Aaron would not enter the promised land. Subsequently, Edom refused Israel passage through their territory, and Aaron died on Mount Hor, his priestly office passing to Eleazar.
¶ Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
Study Notes for Numbers 20
Verse 1
The arrival at Kadesh marks a crucial moment near the end of the 40 years of wandering. Miriam’s death here means that only Moses and Aaron remain of the three siblings who led Israel out of Egypt.
Verse 3
The people’s complaint echoes previous rebellions (e.g., Num 14:2), demonstrating the persistent lack of faith and willingness to challenge God’s appointed leadership.
Verse 8
God commanded Moses to *speak* to the rock (or designated object), emphasizing that water would flow by the power of the divine word, not by Moses' physical action or human force.
Verse 10
Moses’ rash address, 'Hear now, ye rebels,' reveals his profound frustration and anger. This impatience and lack of humility violated the requirement for a leader to reflect God’s holiness and measured response.
Verse 11
By striking the rock twice instead of speaking to it, Moses disobeyed the explicit command of the Lord. Furthermore, the phrasing 'must *we* fetch you water' possibly implies Moses was taking credit or acting on his own authority rather than God's.
Verse 12
Moses and Aaron were judged because they failed to ‘sanctify’ God—meaning they did not treat Him as holy or unique in the presence of the people. Their actions obscured God’s glory and fidelity, resulting in the penalty of exclusion from the Promised Land.
Verse 13
Meribah means 'contention' or 'strife.' Although the people strove against God, God was sanctified (vindicated) in the judgment meted out to the leaders, demonstrating His absolute holiness even in punishment.
Verse 14
Israel appeals to Edom as 'thy brother,' stressing their shared lineage through Jacob and Esau. Moses offers a diplomatic, non-intrusive request for passage, acknowledging the sovereignty of Edom.
Verse 20
Edom’s forceful refusal and threat of violence established a long history of enmity between the descendants of Jacob and the descendants of Esau, referenced frequently in later prophetic literature.
Verse 24
This verse directly links Aaron’s imminent death to the specific rebellion at the water of Meribah (v. 12). God ensures that the leadership is held accountable before the new generation enters Canaan.
Verse 26
The ceremonial stripping of Aaron’s garments and placing them on Eleazar publicly symbolizes the peaceful and divinely ordained transfer of the high priesthood to the next generation.
Verse 28
Aaron, the first High Priest, died at the age of 123. The transition of leadership witnessed by the congregation emphasizes continuity and God's sovereign control over the priesthood.
Verse 29
The thirty days of mourning is the standard period for highly respected figures (cf. Deut 34:8 for Moses), reflecting Aaron's importance to the entire community of Israel.
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